guy poole knows that finding a cure happens step by step
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guy poole holds the order of newfoundland and labrador award for his fundraising for diabetes canada through liz's walk.
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in late 2006, guy poole was taking a long evening walk around his community of st. lewis on the coast of labrador. it was a beautiful night, and he gazed up at the stars and northern lights. “it was like the whole heavens were having a party.”
while it was holiday season, poole wasn’t in a party mood. “i turned around and went back to an empty house.” in 2004, his wife liz had died at age 57 of complications from type 2 diabetes. “she was so sick the last couple of years. it was awful.”
when liz passed away, poole felt like he had lost everything. the morning after his walk, he woke up with an idea of how to honour her memory. he’d keep walking, hundreds of kilometres, as a fundraiser for diabetes canada to support the more than four million people diagnosed with diabetes today.
“i just had to do something,” says guy.
that was the origin of liz’s walk. poole thought it might be a one-time event. yet each year, usually in september, he has taken to the main roads, side roads and back roads of labrador to raise awareness and funds to support diabetes research in canada.
the walks last 10-12 days covering 300-400 kilometres. hotels along the way offer free rooms. guy travels light, with his brother-in-law, robert mesher, serving as his support driver. people join him for stretches, sharing stories of how diabetes has touched their lives.
after covering the length of southeastern labrador, poole has done walks on the island of newfoundland as well, including one from gander to st. john’s. to date, he has walked about 4,000 kilometres and collected $400,000 in donations to support diabetes canada’s work.
“liz’s walk is more than a fundraiser; it is a tribute to the resiliency of people living diabetes,” says nicole holder-dulson, executive director of community fundraising and events. “for 18 years, guy has dedicated his time and energy toward his goal of a cure – a lifetime’s pursuit – knowing that every challenge, every set-back helps improve the quality of life for people living with diabetes.”
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inspiring hope
guy is not stopping anytime soon.
he did miss one year when recovering from a double knee replacement, but otherwise liz’s walk is part of his annual schedule. once he’s on his route, nothing slows him down.
“i’ve walked in storms. i don’t stop for the wind, i don’t stop for the rain.”
he’s humble about his achievements with liz’s walk:
people talk about me like i’m a tough guy. i’m not so tough. i have aches. but i’m just doing this for 10-12 days. the people with diabetes live with the condition every day—24/7, 365 days a year.
that includes his son and his second wife doreen, who he married in 2012. “so many people have [this complex condition]. the more we raise for research, the better their lives are going to be.”
in recognition of his work to support people living with diabetes over the past 18 years, guy was given the order of newfoundland and labrador in october 2024 – the province’s highest honour.
guy poole holds the order of newfoundland and labrador award for his fundraising for diabetes canada through liz’s walk.
the announcement cited how he has “inspired hope” with liz’s walk, and also noted how poole is an active member of nunatukavut and a vocal advocate for indigenous rights.
“indigenous people [are] more prone to diabetes,” guy acknowledges. according to diabetes canada, the ongoing burden of colonization continues to influence indigenous people’s health.
beyond the annual walk, guy often visits schools to talk about diabetes. “you have to start when you’re young.”
on the day of his order of newfoundland and labrador investiture, guy’s mind kept going to all the roads he had walked and to liz.
“i think she’d be pretty proud. i had a feeling she was there in the room with me.”
a promise to keep
liz hasn’t been his only inspiration. at an early walk, guy met a nine-year-old girl from charlottetown named natalie, who handed him a note. she wrote that she was sorry he had lost his wife, and that she hoped his work helped find a cure.
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natalie was living with diabetes herself, and had spent a lot of time in hospital. guy wrote back to her, and pledged that he’d keep going.
the two keep in touch, and guy tries to see natalie during the holidays. “we exchange gifts every year.” she has become as entwined in his mission as liz. “i just won’t go back on my promise to that little girl,” he says.
seven years later, natalie, then 16, joined him for a stretch on liz’s walk.
“that was the highlight of all of my walks,” he says.
guy, who now lives in west st. modeste, is already planning his 2025 route. he sees only two ways that liz’s walk will end.
“i won’t stop until i can’t or there’s a cure.”
this story first appeared as the cover story for diabetes canada’s 2024 annual impact report. read the full report
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